Holiday Shipping Guide: Get Your Gifts no later than December 24th

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us! Twinkling lights, festive cheer, and the joy of finding that perfect gift are all part of the holiday magic. At MamaBear Books, we believe the best gifts are the ones that create lasting memories, and there’s nothing quite like cuddling up with a good book during the holidays.

To make sure your carefully chosen stories arrive in time to be wrapped and placed under the tree, we’ve created this guide to our December shipping deadlines. The holiday season means a major increase in shipping volume for carriers like USPS and UPS, so ordering early is the best way to ensure a stress-free and timely delivery. Let’s get those presents on their way!

Beat the Holiday Rush: Why Ordering Early is Key

As millions of people send gifts to loved ones, shipping networks become incredibly busy. This surge can lead to carrier delays beyond our control. By placing your order before our recommended cutoff dates, you can avoid the anxiety of last-minute shopping and rest easy knowing your packages are on their way.

Planning gives you the freedom to focus on what truly matters—making memories with family and friends. Having your gifts in hand early means you can relax and enjoy the season, whether you're wrapping presents while listening to holiday music or packing them for a trip to see family.

Your 2025 Holiday Shipping Deadlines

To ensure your books arrive on or before Tuesday, December 24th (Christmas Eve), we recommend placing your orders by the following dates. Please remember that these are the deadlines provided by our shipping partners, and ordering as early as possible is always the best strategy.

USPS Deadlines (to arrive no later than December 24th

For reliable delivery through the United States Postal Service, please use these dates as your guide:

• Ground Advantage: Order by Wednesday, December 17th
• Priority Mail: Order by Thursday, December 18th
• Priority Mail Express: Order by Saturday, December 20th

UPS Deadlines (to arrive by December 24th)

If you prefer to ship with UPS, here are the final days to place your order for a timely holiday arrival:

• UPS® Ground & UPS Ground Saver®: We recommend ordering by mid-December. Please get a real-time quote at checkout for the most accurate delivery estimate for your location.
• UPS 3 Day Select®: Order by Friday, December 19th
• UPS 2nd Day Air®: Order by Monday, December 22nd
• UPS Next Day Air®: Order by Tuesday, December 23rd

These dates are for shipping within the contiguous United States. If you are shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, or international destinations, please allow for extra time and place your orders as early as possible.

Award-Winning Books to Place Under the Tree

Choosing a book is an investment in a child’s development. Stories nurture imagination, encourage a lifelong love of reading, and provide precious opportunities for quality family time. Here are some of our award-winning books, perfect for gifting this season.

1. Feelings on the Farm

• Ages: 0-2
• About the Book: This charming board book helps babies and toddlers understand their emotions. Join Farmer Cody’s animals as they experience a range of feelings, from cranky to silly, with expressive illustrations and simple language.
• Review: “Libraries and parents seeking board books that excel in the easy understanding of emotions by the very young will find Feelings on the Farm a major attraction.” - Midwest Book Review

2. The Day I Had an Activity Book

• Ages: 2-8
• About the Book: A perfect companion to the “The Day I Had A...” series, this book is filled with coloring pages, mazes, and letter and number practice. It’s an ideal gift to engage kids creatively and develop fine motor skills.
• Review: "My 3 and 6 year-old loved this book!" - Deb R. Reviewer & Librarian

3. The Day I Had a Bulldozer

• Ages: 3-5
• About the Book: A child's dream comes to life when a bulldozer appears with his name on it! This fun-filled friendship story kicks off the imaginative “The Day I Had A...” series.
• Review: "A message-driven tale that will appeal most to young construction-vehicle enthusiasts. Our verdict: Get it!” - Kirkus Reviews

4. The Day I Had a Dinosaur

• Ages: 3-5
• About the Book: What happens when you and your friends all show up to the park with dinosaurs? This award-winning story is a dino-tastic adventure about inclusion and teamwork, ensuring no one is left out of the fun.
• Review: “Highlighting the importance of patience, kindness, empathy, and never giving up, this is a well-rounded, heartwarming story that’s so fun that its lessons about friendship and supporting each other slip in offhandedly, without didacticism.” - BookLife Reviews

5. Detective Stan the Crayon Man and the Case of the Missing Birthday Cake

• Ages: 3-5
• About the Book: There's a mystery in Colorful County! This interactive and engaging book teaches colors and problem-solving skills as Detective Stan follows clues to find a missing birthday cake.
• Review: “Colorful crayons and mystery solving unite in this kaleidoscopic debut…” - BookLife Reviews

6. Lucy and Her Unicorn Get a Sparkle Puppy

• Ages: 3-5
• About the Book: Best friends Lucy and her unicorn, Twinkle, take on the responsibility of training a new sparkle puppy. This tale teaches teamwork and problem-solving with a "sparkle-tastic" twist.
• Review: “A fun and sparkly picture book for girls and boys who love unicorns, puppies and anything that glitters. Simply, sparkle-tastic!” - Readers' Choice Book Award Finalist

7. The Day I Had a Fire Truck

• Ages: 3-6
• About the Book: When the town's firefighters take a day off, Luke and his friends step in to run the fire station. This adventure empowers children to help others and work together as a team.
• Review: "This is a delightful picture book that captures the excitement of fire trucks and firefighters, through the eyes of a young boy." - Readers' Choice Book Award Finalist

8. The Day I Had a Spaceship

• Ages: 3-6
• About the Book: Blast off on an out-of-this-world adventure! Luke and his friends explore space, learning about the moon, lunar gravity, and the power of teamwork. This book is a perfect launchpad for learning.
• Review: “The Day I Had a Spaceship is a delightful 'launchpad' for learning and imagination." - Readers' Favorite 5-Star Review

9. The Handy Pandas Rhyming Book

• Ages: 3-6
• About the Book: What do you do when the sun goes missing? You find it! Join four silly pandas as they use creative problem-solving and perseverance to tackle a big problem in this whimsical tale.
• Review: "The story is sweet, silly, and full of giggles. The illustrations are super colorful and full of fun, and children will laugh out loud at the cute panda bears and their wild ideas." - Readers' Choice Book Award Silver Winner

10. How to Get an Alligator Out of the Bathtub

• Ages: 4-6
• About the Book: Two brothers discover a sophisticated alligator has taken up residence in their bathtub. This zany story is a fun and imaginative read about an unlikely friendship.
• Review: “A fun and imaginative read, perfect for children who love silly stories and a little bit of mischief.” - Readers' Choice Book Award Finalist

Special Offers for a Magical Holiday plus Free Shipping!

Buy any book and get a new-release, first-edition book for just $9.99!

To share in the spirit of the season, we're bringing back our popular The Day I Had A Series Bundle, the perfect holiday gift, timeless and full of adventures! The bundle includes the new release, The Day I Had a  Spaceship!  This award-winning series is designed to spark imagination and wonder, making it the perfect present for any young reader on your list. It’s a complete gift that offers hours of adventure, wrapped up and ready to go. This bundle is available for a limited time, so be sure to grab yours today!

From all of us at MamaBear Books, we wish you a joyful, peaceful, and story-filled holiday season!